One of the famous verses of this sura is the verse "Salam-un 'ala El-Yasin..." which is also pronounced "Al-i Yasin", and it is said that it refers to the Ahl al-Bayt (a) of the Prophet (s). According to hadiths, if a person recites this sura on Friday, he will be safe from any harm, afflictions will be away from him in this world, and his daily sustenance will reach the maximum limit.

Contents

Introduction

Naming

Sura al-Saffat is called so because the word "al-saffat" is mentioned in its first verse.[1] "Al-Saffat" means those who stand in a line.[2] It is said that it refers to the angels ranged in the sky or believers in the line of prayer or jihad.[3]

Order and Place of Revelation

Sura al-Saffat is among Makki suras and was fifty sixth sura revealed to the Prophet (s). This sura is thirty seventh sura in the Qur'an now,[4]
located in juz' twenty three.

Number of Verses and Other Features

Sura al-Saffat has 182 verses, 866 words and 3903 letters. Regarding volume, this sura is among Mi'un suras (having about hundred verses).[5] Al-Saffat is the first sura beginning with a swear.[6]

Sacrificing Isma'il (a)

In verses hundred to 107 of Sura al-Saffat, the story of the mission of the Prophet Abraham (a) for sacrificing his son is mentioned. In these verses, it is mentioned that in a dream, Abraham (a) saw that he (a) has to sacrifice his son and when he decided to do so and placed his son's forehead on the ground, God called him that, "You have indeed fulfilled your vision! Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous!." So, a great sacrifice (a ram according to commentaries) was made instead. God calls this event "a manifest test".

All the details of the story are not mentioned in these verses. Even, it is not stated that the son of Abraham (a) in this event was Isma'il (a), and only some of the details are mentioned.[9]Shi'a believe that the son to be sacrificed was Isma'il (a), not Ishaq (a).[10]

Famous Verses

'Peace be to Elias!' (Verse 130)

There is a disagreement about the recitation of this verse. Some pronounce it "Al-i Yasin" which means the Ahl al-Bayt (a) and some others pronounce it "El-Yasin" which points at the Prophet Elias (a).[11] It is transmitted from Imam al-Sadiq (a), "Al-i Yasin refers to us, the Ahl al-Bayt (a), because "Yasin" refers to the Prophet (s)". According to Allama Tabataba'i, this hadith is true if this is pronounced "Al-i Yasin" which among the seven recitations is based on the recitations of Nafi', Ya'qub, Zayd and Ibn Amir.[12] Some Sunni scholars have transmitted from Ibn Abbas that "Al-i Yasin" refers to the Ahl al-Bayt (a) of the Prophet (s).[13]

Rescuing Prophet Moses (a) and Aaron (a) and their people and revealing book to them (verses 114–123)

Elias's (a) mission and inviting people to worship God, rejecting Elias (a) by people (verses 124–132)

Lot's (a) mission, rescuing him and his household, punishing his wife and his people (verses 133–137)

Jonah's (a) mission, his escape from people, living in the stomach of the fish, returning to his people, the faith of the people (verses 138–148)

Merits and Benefits

It is transmitted from Imam al-Sadiq (a) that if a person recites Sura al-Saffat every Friday, he will be safe from any harm, and afflictions will be away from him in this world; and his daily sustenance will reach the maximum limit; and Satan would not cause any harm to his property, body and children; and if this sura is recited either at night or during the day, the reciter will be resurrected as a martyr, and God will take him to the highest level of the paradise together with martyrs.[14]